EIA: Renewable Energy Gained U.S. Market Share in 2005

Renewable energy consumption increased 2% in the United States between
2004 and 2005, according to a new report from DOE's Energy Information
Administration (EIA). The EIA's "Renewable Energy Annual, 2005,"
released on July 25th, notes that total U.S. energy consumption was
essentially flat in 2005, causing renewable energy's market share to
increase to nearly 7% of U.S. energy use. The report notes that wind
power grew most rapidly in 2005, increasing by 26%, while the biofuel
industry experienced the second most rapid growth, at more than 15%.
Breaking the numbers down further, the EIA found extremely rapid
growth in the biodiesel industry, which experienced a four-fold
increase in production in 2005.

The EIA report is actually a compilation of four reports, which
examine overall renewable energy trends, shipments of solar energy
collectors, shipments of geothermal heat pumps, and trends in green
pricing and net metering programs. The solar collector report notes
that domestic shipments of solar thermal collectors increased by
10.4%, while exports grew by 67.4%. For solar cells and modules,
domestic shipments surged by 72%, but exports fell 10% as U.S.
manufacturers focused on the growing domestic market. Foreign
companies also zeroed in on that market, increasing imports by 91%.
Those figures go hand-in-hand with the report on net metering, which
saw a 34% growth in 2005, mainly for solar power systems. California
provided most of that growth, followed by New Jersey. Geothermal heat
pumps also experienced a growing market, with shipments increasing by
9% to the highest level yet recorded by EIA. Nearly all geothermal
heat pumps produced here are sent to destinations within the United
States. See the EIA report.

The report marks the 11th annual report on renewable energy from EIA.
While EIA's annual reports were formerly issued within a year of the
event, the 2004 and 2005 reports have lagged far enough behind to
provide at best a historical view of the burgeoning industry. See the
EIA's complete list of renewable energy reports.